Tom Cruise lauds power of Scientology in Web video

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A video of actor Tom Cruise touting
himself and fellow Scientologists as "authorities on the mind"
has appeared on the Internet, coinciding with a new biography
that examines his role in the movement.

The origin of the footage, which the Church of Scientology
said was a video shown at a 2004 International Association of
Scientologists meeting, was not clear. It popped up on several
Web sites and some took it down after copyright claims by the
church.

Cruise, shown wearing a black turtleneck sweater and
speaking while the musical theme to his hit movie "Mission:
Impossible" played in the background, said he was dedicated to
changing people's lives.

"It's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist and it's
something that you have to earn," he said.

"We're the authorities on getting people off drugs. We're
the authorities on the mind. We're the authorities on improving
conditions," he says. "We can rehabilitate criminals. Way to
happiness. We can bring peace and unite cultures."

In the video, which could be seen on www.gawker.com, Cruise
explained what made Scientologists different from others.

"Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident
it's not like anyone else. As you drive past you know you have
to do something about it because you know you're the only one
who can help," the Oscar-nominated actor said.

Cruise is one of the best-known Scientologists. The
movement has a following among some Hollywood celebrities but
is condemned as a cult in some quarters, including by the
German government.
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